ANGELES CITY — The emergence of the modern fashion industry, created by designers from Central Luzon, is poised to be the “next crowning glory” of the One Town, One Product (OTOP) program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
This is how former President and Pampanga 2nd district representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo described the Pustura 2.0 Central Luzon fashion show held at the SM City Clark.
Being a former executive director of the Garments and Textile Board during her stint as assistant secretary of DTI in the 1980s, Arroyo wants to bring more locally designed modern Filipiniana and Barong Tagalog to the global market to open up more jobs and livelihood opportunities.
Two garment-related cooperatives from Bulacan and six designers from Pampanga and Nueva Ecija have rolled out their created designs that reflect the rich heritage and culture of those provinces.
DTI Regional Director Edna Dizon emphasized that it is more than a fashion show but all about the passion of the Central Luzon designers to level up their creativity and innovation.
Designs by Malikhaing Malolenyo, an organization and cooperative established by couturiers in the city of Malolos, led the runway of the Pustura 2.0 followed by the creations of Jowel Rivera, one of the pioneer members of Disenyo Pandi.
Arroyo has cited Disenyo Pandi as among the towering successes of the OTOP program she started in 2002, which leverages the economy of Pandi, Bulacan and makes it a model cooperative in the region.
Meanwhile, designers Randy Maniquiz and Mark Tolentino from Nueva Ecija showed their high-end Filipiniana and Barong Tagalog designs which have already been recognized in the market.
Moreover, four top designers from Pampanga also joined Pustura 2.0 namely Rich Sabinian, Rop Syquia, Mich Viray, and Richie Bondoc.
Some of their designs have already entered the vast market of Filipino communities in the United States and the Middle East.
